Sanctification of work and hospital nurse employment outcomes: An observational study

AIM: To explore nurse ascriptions of sacredness to work and measure its association with the employment outcomes of job satisfaction, burnout, organisational commitment, employee engagement and turnover intention. BACKGROUND: High portions of hospital nurses experience burnout. Many factors contributing to burnout also contribute to job dissatisfaction and other negative employment outcomes. Personal factors, such as religiosity, help nurses to cope with work. METHODS: Questionnaires measuring study variables were distributed to all nursing personnel at a faith‐based hospital in Los Angeles; 463 responded. Regression analyses allowed measurement of how sacredness ascribed to work (measured by Sanctification of Work Scale) and religiosity (measured by Duke Religiosity Index) were associated with the various employment outcomes. RESULTS: Sanctification of work consistently was found to be associated with less burnout and intention to leave, and more job satisfaction, employee engagement and organisational commitment. CONCLUSION: The sacredness with which a nurse views work explains, in part, positive employment outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurturing a sense of sacredness for work in nurses may provide them with an internal buffer against negative employment outcomes. Suggestions for creating rituals and educating nurses are offered.